System and method for a software steerable web Camera

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for controlling the capture of an image of an object in a camera field of vision, includes: a camera including a wide angle lens capable to capture a scene within a field of vision of the wide angle lens; an image collection array communicatively coupled to the wide angle lens and capable to store data of the scene within the field of vision; a memory communicatively coupled to the image collection array and capable to store digitized data of the scene within the field of vision; and a webcam engine communicatively coupled to the memory and capable to select, based upon a user command, a subset of the digitized data of the scene to simulate an image captured by a panning, tilting or zooming function of the camera.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to digital imaging, digitalvideo or web cameras, and more particularly but not exclusively, tosystems and methods for capturing camera images by use of softwarecontrol.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventional digital imaging, digital video or web cameras(“webcams”) can be used for teleconferencing, surveillance, and otherpurposes. One of the problems with conventional webcams is that theyhave a very restricted field of vision. This restricted vision field isdue to the limitations in the mechanism used to control the webcam andin the optics and other components in the webcam.

[0003] In order to increase the vision field of a webcam, the user mightmanually control the webcam to pan and/or tilt in various directions(e.g., side-to-side or up-and-down) and/or to zoom in or away from animage to be captured. However, this manual technique is inconvenient, asit requires the user to stop whatever he/she is doing, to readjust thewebcam, and to then resume his/her previous activity.

[0004] Various other schemes have been proposed to increase the webcamvision field, such as adding complex lens assemblies and stepper motorsto the webcams to permit the camera to perform the pan and zoomfunctions. However, complex lens assemblies are expensive and will makewebcams unaffordable for many consumers. Additionally, stepper motorsuse moving or mechanical parts that may fail after a certain amount oftime, thus requiring expensive repairs or the need to purchase a newwebcam. Stepper motors may also disadvantageously suffer fromhysterisis, in which repeated pan, tilt or zooming operations lead toslightly inconsistent settings during each operation.

[0005] Furthermore, repairs for webcams on set top boxes (STBs) areparticularly expensive because of the required service call forrepairing the STB webcam.

[0006] Accordingly, there is need for a new system and method to allowwebcams to increase their vision field. There is also a need for a newsystem and method to permit webcams to perform particular operations,such as panning, tilting, and/or zooming, without using stepper motorsor requiring the user to physically adjust the webcam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the presentinvention are described with reference to the following figures, whereinlike reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

[0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a webcam coupled to a set topbox according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the webcam of FIG.1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the set top box ofFIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one example of a memory device of theset top box.

[0012]FIG. 5A is an illustrative example block diagram showing afunction of the webcam of FIG. 1 in response to particular pan and/ortilt commands.

[0013]FIG. 5B is an illustrative example block diagram of selectedsubsets in a digitized scene image data in response to particular panand/or tilt commands.

[0014]FIG. 6A is an illustrative example block diagram of a selectedsubset image data with distortions.

[0015]FIG. 6B is an illustrative example block diagram of a selectedsubset image data that has been distortion compensated.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram of a method according to anembodiment of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 8A is an illustrative example block diagram showing afunction of the webcam of FIG. 1 in response to particular pan and zoomcommands.

[0018]FIG. 8B is an illustrative example block diagram of a selectedsubset in the digitized scene image data in response to a particular pancommand;

[0019]FIG. 8C is an illustrative example block diagram of the selectedsubset in FIG. 8B in response to a particular zoom command.

[0020]FIG. 9 is an illustrative example block diagram of the selectedsubset in FIG. 9 in response to another particular zoom command.

[0021]FIG. 10 is a flowchart diagram of a method according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 11 is another diagram shown to further assist in describingan operation of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Embodiments of a system and method for a software steerablecamera are disclosed herein. As an overview, an embodiment of theinvention provides a system and method that capture camera images by useof software control. As an example, the camera may be web camera orother types of camera that can support a wide angle lens. The wide anglelens is used to capture a scene or image in the wide field of vision.The captured scene or image data is then stored in an image collectionarray and then digitized and stored in memory. In one embodiment, theimage collection array is a relatively larger sized array to permit thearray to store image data from the wide vision field. Processing isperformed for user commands to effectively pan the webcam in particulardirections and/or to zoom the webcam toward or away from an object to becaptured as an image. However, instead of physically moving the webcamin response to the user commands, a particular subset of the digitizeddata is selected and processed so that selected subset data provides asimulated panning and/or zooming of the image of the captured object. Acompression/correction engine can then compensate the selected subsetdata for distortion and compress the selected subset data fortransmission.

[0024] The invention advantageously permits a camera, such as a webcam,to have a wide vision field. The invention may also advantageouslyprovide a wide vision field for cameras that have short depth fields.The invention also advantageously avoids the use of stepper motors toobtain particular images based on pan and zoom commands from the user.

[0025] In the description herein, numerous specific details areprovided, such as the description of system components in FIGS. 1through 10, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of theinvention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, thatthe invention can be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, parts, and thelike. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, oroperations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuringaspects of the invention.

[0026] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or“an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, theappearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more embodiments.

[0027]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a webcam 100 communicativelycoupled to a set top box (“STB”) 140 according to an embodiment of theinvention. The webcam 100 can capture an image of an object 130 that isin the webcam field of vision. Webcam 100 is communicatively coupled toSTB 140 via, for example, a cable 110. Webcam 100 may also becommunicatively coupled to STB 140 by use of other suitable connectionsor methods, such as IR beams, radio signals, suitable wirelesstransmission techniques, and the like. Typically, STB 140 iscommunicatively coupled to a cable network 160 and receives TVbroadcasts, as well as other data, from the cable network 160.Typically, STB 140 is also communicatively coupled to the Internet 150or other networks for sending and receiving data. Data received from theInternet 150 or cable network 160 may be displayed on a display 120. STB140 may also transmit images that are captured by the webcam 100 toother computers via the Internet 150. STB may also transmit the capturedwebcam images to a printer 165 and/or to other devices 170 such as acomputer in a local area network.

[0028] It is noted that embodiments of the invention may also beimplemented in other types of suitable cameras that can support a wideangle lens. For example, an embodiment of the invention may beimplemented in, for example, security cameras, ATM cash machine cameras,spy cameras, portable cameras, or pin-hole type cameras. It is furthernoted that the invention is not limited to the use of STB 140. Otherprocessing device may be used according to embodiments of the inventionto perform image distortion compensation, image compression, and/orother functions that will be described below.

[0029]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the webcam 100 ofFIG. 1. Webcam 100 comprises a lens 210; a shutter 220; a filter 230; animage collection array 240; a sample stage 245; and an analog to digitalconverter (“ADC”) 250. The lens 210 may be a wide angle lens, such as afish-eye lens, that has angular field of, for example, at least about140 degrees, as indicated by lines 200. Using a wide-angle lens allowswebcam 100 to capture a larger image area than a conventional webcam.Shutter 220 opens and closes at a pre-specified rate, allowing lightinto the interior of webcam 100 and onto a filter 230. Filter 230 allowsfor image collection array 240 to capture different colors of an imageand may include a static filter, such as a Bayer filter, or may includea spinning disk filter. In another embodiment, the filter may bereplaced with a beam splitter or other color differentiation device. Inanother embodiment, webcam 100 does not include a filter or other colordifferentiation device.

[0030] In one embodiment, the image collection array 240 can includecharge coupled device (“CCD”) sensors or complementary metal oxidesemiconductor (“CMOS”) sensors, which are generally much less expensivethan CCD sensors but may be more susceptible to noise. Other types ofsensors may be used in the image collection array 240. The size of theimage collection array 240 is relatively larger in size such as, forexample, 1024 by 768, 1200 by 768, or 2000 by 1000 sensors. The largesized array permits the array 240 to capture images in the wide visionfield 200 that is viewed by the webcam 200.

[0031] A sample stage 245 reads the image data from the image collectionarray 240 when shutter 220 is closed, and an analog-to-digital converter(ADC) 250 converts the image data from an analog to digital form, andfeeds the digitized image data to STB 140 via cable 110 for processingand/or transmission. In an alternative embodiment, the image data may beprocessed entirely by components of the webcam 100 and transmitted fromwebcam 100 to other devices such as the printer 165 or computer 170.

[0032] For purposes of explaining the functionality of embodiments ofthe invention, other conventional components that are included in thewebcam 100 have been omitted in the figures and are not discussedherein.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the set top box(STB) 140. STB 140 includes a network interface 300; a processor 310; amemory device 320; a frame buffer 330; a converter 340; a modem 350; awebcam interface 360, and an input device 365, all interconnected forcommunication by system bus 370. Network interface 300 connects the STB140 to the cable network 160 (FIG. 1) to receive videocasts from thecable network 160. In alternative embodiments, the modem 350 orconverter 340 may provide some or all of the functionality of thenetwork interface 300.

[0034] Processor 310 executes instructions stored in memory 320, whichwill be discussed in further detail in conjunction with FIG. 4. Framebuffer 330 holds preprocessed data received from webcam 100 via webcaminterface 360. In another embodiment, the frame buffer 330 is omittedsince the data from webcam 100 may be loaded into memory 320 instead ofloading the data into the frame buffer 330.

[0035] Converter 340 can convert, if necessary, digitally encodedbroadcasts to a format usable by display 120 (FIG. 1). Modem 350 may bea conventional modem for communicating with the Internet 150 via apublicly switched telephone network. The modem 350 can transmit andreceive digital information, such as television scheduling information,the webcam 100 output images, or other information to Internet 150.Alternatively, modem 350 may be a cable modem or a wireless modem forsending and receiving data from the Internet 150 or other network.

[0036] Webcam interface 360 is communicatively coupled to webcam 100 andreceives image output from the webcam 100. Webcam interface 360 mayinclude, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a parallelport, an infrared (IR) receiver, or other suitable device for receivingdata. Input device 365 may include, for example, a keyboard, mouse,joystick, or other device or combination of devices that a user (localor remote) uses to control the pan, tilt, and/or zoom webcam 100 by useof software control according to embodiments of the invention.Alternatively, input device 365 may include a wireless device, such aninfrared IR remote control device that is separate from the STB 140. Inthis particular alternative embodiment, the STB 140 also may include anIR receiver communicatively coupled to the system bus 370 to receive IRsignals from the remote control input device.

[0037] The components shown in FIG. 3 may be configured in other waysand in addition, the components may also be integrated. Thus, theconfiguration of the STB 140 in FIG. 3 is not intended to be limiting.

[0038]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a memory device 320 ofthe set top box 140. Memory device 320 may be, for example, a harddrive, a disk drive, random access memory (“RAM”), read only memory(“ROM”), flash memory, or any other suitable memory device, or anycombination thereof. Memory device 320 stores, for example, acompression/correction engine 400 that performs compression anddistortion compensation on the image data received from webcam 100.Memory device 320 also stores, for example, a webcam engine 410 thataccepts and process user commands relating to the pan, tilt, and/or zoomfunctions of the webcam 100, as described below. It is also noted thecompression/correction engine 400 and/or the webcam engine 410 may bestored in other storage areas that are accessible by the processor 310.It is noted that either one of the compression/correction engine 400 orwebcam engine 410 may be implemented, for example, as a program, module,instruction, or the like.

[0039] Compression/correction engine 400 uses, for example, any knownsuitable skew correction algorithm that compresses a subset of the imageoutput from webcam 100 and that compensates the subset image output fordistortion. The distortion compensation of the subset image output maybe performed before the compression of the subset image output. Inanother embodiment, the distortion is automatically corrected in thesubset image output when performing the compression of the subset imageoutput, and this leads to a saving in processor resource.

[0040] Webcam engine 410 accepts input from a user includinginstructions to pan the webcam 100 in particular directions and/or tozoom the webcam 100 toward or away from an object to be captured as animage.

[0041]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate examples of operations of embodimentsof the invention. For example, FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating atop view of webcam 100. The vision field 200 of the wide angle lens 210of webcam 100 captures a wide scene area including the three objects480, 482, and 484. In contrast, a conventional webcam may only be ableto capture the scene area in the limited vision field 481. As a result,a conventional webcam may need manual adjustment or movement by steppermotors to capture the objects 480 or 484 that are outside the limitedvision field 481.

[0042] For the webcam 100, the entire scene captured in the vision field200 is stored as an image in the image collection array 240 (FIG. 2) andprocessed by stages 245 and 250, and the image data of the entire sceneis stored as digitized scene image data 485 in frame buffer 330 (ormemory 320). Thus, each position in the scene area that is covered byvision field 200 corresponds to a position in the image collection array240 (FIG. 2). The values in the positions in the image collection array240 are then digitized as values of the digitized scene image data 485.

[0043] The webcam engine 410 (FIG. 4) allows a user to select a subsetarea in the vision field 200 for display or transmission, so as tosimulate a panning/tilting feature of conventional webcams that usestepper motors. For example, assume that the digitized image data 485was captured in response to a user directly or remotely sending acommand 486 via input device 365 to pan the webcam 100 to the left inorder to permit the capture of an image of the object 480. The webcamengine 410 receives the pan left command 486 and accordingly samples anarea 487 that contains an image of the object 480 in the digitized sceneimage data 485.

[0044] As another example, if the user were to send a pan right command488 to webcam 100, then the webcam engine 410 selects an area (subset)489 that contains an image of the object 484 in the digitized sceneimage data 485.

[0045] As another example, if the user were to send a tilt down command495 to webcam 100, then the webcam engine 410 selects a subset 496 thatcontains an image of the bottom portion 498 of object 484 in thedigitized scene image data 485.

[0046] Webcam engine 410 then passes a selected area (e.g., selectedarea 487, 489, 496) to the compression/correction engine 400 (FIG. 4).The compression/correction engine 400 then performs compressionoperation and distortion compensation. For example, in FIG. 6A, assumethat the selected area 487 shows distortions 490 in the image of 480 asa result of using the wide angle lens 210. For images captured by a wideangle lens, the distortions become more pronounced toward the edges ofthe images. The compression/correction engine 400 can perform distortioncompensation to reverse the distortion caused by the wide angle lens 210on the captured image of object 480. Typically, this compensation isperformed by changing the curved surface of an image into a straightsurface.

[0047]FIG. 6B shows an image of the object 480 without distortions afterapplying distortion compensation on the selected area 487. Thus, theimage of the object 480 is shown as a normal rectilinear image. Theselected area 487 can then be compressed by the compression/correctionengine 400. In another embodiment, the compression and distortioncompensation for selected area 487 can be performed concurrently. In yetanother embodiment, the distortion compensation for selected area 487can be performed before compression of the selected area 487.

[0048] The webcam engine 410 then passes the compresseddistortion-compensated selected image data 487 to an output device, suchas display 120 (FIG. 1) for viewing, or to the printer 165 or otherdevices such as computer 170. In addition to or instead of passing thecompressed distortion-compensated selected image data 487 to an outputdevice, webcam engine 410 may transmit the data 487 to another devicecoupled to the Internet 150.

[0049]FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram of a method 600 to perform apanning, tilting or zooming function according to an embodiment of theinvention. A user first sends (605) a pan/tilt command indicating adirection of an object to be captured in an image by a webcam. A scenein the field of vision of a lens of the webcam is then captured (605).In one embodiment, the captured scene is in the vision field 200 (FIG.2) of a wide angle lens 210 of the webcam 100. The captured scene in thevision field is then stored (615) as scene image data in an imagecollection array. The image collection array may, for example, includecharge coupled devices or complementary metal oxide semiconductorsensors. The scene image data in the image collection array is thenprocessed and stored (620) as a digitized scene image data. Thedigitized scene data may be stored in, for example, the frame buffer 330in the set top box 140 or other processing device. Based on thepan/tilt/zoom command(s), a subset of the digitized scene image data isselected (625). In one embodiment, the webcam engine 410 processes thepan/tilt/zoom command(s) and selects the subset of the digitized sceneimage data based on the pan/tilt/zoom command(s).

[0050] Distortion compensation and compression is then performed (630)on the subset of the digitized scene image data. In one embodiment, thecompression/correction engine 400 performs (630) the distortioncompensation and compression of the subset of the digitized scene imagedata. The distortion-compensated and compressed subset is thentransmitted (635) to a selected destination such as display 120, toanother device via Internet 150 or cable network 160, to printer 165,and/or to computer 170.

[0051]FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an example of another operation ofembodiments of the invention. Assume the user sends a command 700 inorder to capture an image of the object 710 and another command 705 tozoom the image of the object 710. A conventional webcam will require aphysical pan movement to the left to capture the image of the object 705and to capture a zoomed image of the object 705. Assume in this examplethat the digitized scene image data 485 of the scene in the vision field200 was captured in the manner described above. The webcam engine 410receives the pan left command 700 and accordingly selects an area 715that contains an image of the object 710 in the digitized scene imagedata 485. The compression/correction engine 400 can perform distortioncompensation to reverse the distortion caused by the wide angle lens 210on the captured image of object 710. Typically, this compensation isperformed by changing the curved surface of an image into a straightsurface.

[0052] Also, as shown in FIG. 8C, in response to the zoom command 705,the webcam engine 410 can enlarge an image of the selected area 715 in,for example, the frame buffer 330. The compression/correction engine 400can then compress the image of selected area 715 and transmit thecompressed image to a destination such as the display 120 or othersuitable devices.

[0053] Reference is now made to FIGS. 8A and 9 to describe anotherfunction according to an embodiment of the invention. Assume the usersends a command 700 in order to capture an image of the object 710 andanother command 740 to zoom away from the object 710. The webcam engine410 receives the pan left command 700 and accordingly selects an area750 that contains an image of the object 710 in the digitized sceneimage data 485. However, since the webcam engine 410 also received thezoom away command 740, the selected area 750 will be larger in size andcover a greater selected area portion in the digitized scene image area485 than the selected area 715 in FIG. 8B.

[0054]FIG. 10 is a flowchart diagram of a method 800 to perform azooming function according to an embodiment of the invention. A userfirst sends (805) a zoom command indicating whether to zoom in or awayfrom an object to be captured in an image by a webcam. A scene in thefield of vision of the lens of the webcam is then captured (810). Thecaptured scene in the vision field is then stored (815) as scene imagedata in an image collection array. The scene image data in the imagecollection array is then processed and stored (820) as a digitized sceneimage data. Based on the zoom command, a subset of the digitized sceneimage data is selected (825).

[0055] Processing of the subset of the digitized scene image data isthen performed (827) based on the zoom command. For example, if the zoomcommand is for zooming the image of the captured object, then the subsetof the digitized scene image data is enlarged. As another example, ifthe zoom command is for zooming away from the captured object, then theselected subset will cover a greater area in the digitized scene imagedata.

[0056] Distortion compensation and compression are then performed (830)on the subset of the digitized scene image data. Thedistortion-compensated and compressed subset is then transmitted (835)to a selected destination such as display 120, to another device viaInternet 150 or cable network 160, to printer 165, and/or to computer170.

[0057]FIG. 11 is another diagram shown to further assist in describingan operation of an embodiment of the invention. A scene 900 falls withinthe vision field 905 of a wide angle lens 910 of a camera 915. Thecaptured scene is digitized and processed into a digitized scene data920. A subset 925 of the digitized scene data 920 is selected based on apan, tilt, and/or zoom command(s) that can be transmitted from an inputdevice by the user. The selected subset 925 is then skew corrected(e.g., distortion compensated) into scene data 930 that can betransmitted to a destination. The scene data 930 is also typicallycompressed in order to optimize the data transmission across a network.

[0058] Other variations and modifications of the above-describedembodiments and methods are possible in light of the foregoing teaching.For example, webcam 100 may comprise a processor and perform theselection of the subset of the digitized scene image data and thedistortion compensation and compression of the subset instead of STB140. As another example, the webcam 100 can send the digitized sceneimage output to a processing device, such as a personal computer insteadof the STB 140, and the processing device can select the subset of thedigitized scene image data and perform the distortion compensation andcompression of the subset.

[0059] As another example, the webcam 100 can instead send the digitizedscene image output to an optional companion box device 175 (FIG. 1)instead of sending the digitized scene image output to the set top box140. The companion box 175 may include, for example, the functionalityof an Interactive Companion Box, as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. ______, filed on Mar. 22, 2001, entitled “Interactive CompanionSet Top Box,” by inventors Ted M. Tsuchida and James A. Billmaier, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Functions ofthe Interactive Companion Box may include Internet access,Video-on-Demand, an electronic programming guide, videoconferencing,and/or other functions.

[0060] As another example, the sample stage 245 in FIG. 1 may insteadperform the selection of the image subset to be compressed andcompensated for distortion, instead of the webcam engine 410.

[0061] Further, at least some of the components of this invention may beimplemented by using a programmed general purpose digital computer, byusing application specific integrated circuits or field programmablegate arrays, or by using a network of interconnected components andcircuits. Connections may be wired, wireless, by modem, and the like.

[0062] The above description of illustrated embodiments of theinvention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intendedto be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described herein for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

[0063] These modifications can be made to the invention in light of theabove detailed description. The terms used in the following claimsshould not be construed to limit the invention to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims. Rather, thescope of the invention is to be determined entirely by the followingclaims, which are to be construed in accordance with establisheddoctrines of claim interpretation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of capturing an image by use of acamera, the method comprising: placing a scene within a field of visionof a wide angle lens coupled to the camera; storing image data of thescene in an image collection array; digitizing the scene image data intoa digitized scene image data and storing the digitized scene image datain memory; based on a command, selecting a subset of the digitized sceneimage data; and performing additional processing on the selected subsetof the digitized scene image data.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein thecamera is used to transmit images on a network.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein the camera is communicatively coupled to a set top box that iscapable of transmitting images over data streams in a network.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the selecting the subset is controlled by aset top box that is capable to transmit images across a network.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the performing the additional processing iscontrolled by a set top box that is capable to transmit images across anetwork.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the camera is communicativelycoupled to a companion box that is capable to control a set top box fortransmitting images across a network
 7. The method of claim 1 whereinthe selecting the subset is controlled by a companion box that iscapable to control a set top box for transmitting images across anetwork.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing the additionalprocessing is controlled by a companion box that is capable to control aset top box for transmitting images across a network.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the additional processing comprises: performingdistortion compensation on the selected subset of the digitized sceneimage data.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional processingcomprises: performing compression on the selected subset of thedigitized scene image data.
 11. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising: transmitting the compressed selected subset of the digitizedscene image data to a destination device.
 12. The method of claim 1wherein the selected subset of the digitized scene image data is basedon a pan command.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected subsetof the digitized scene image data is based on a tilt command.
 14. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the additional processing includes: enlargingthe image in the selected subset of the digitized scene image data inresponse to a zoom command.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein theadditional processing includes: enlarging an area of the selected subsetof the digitized scene image data in response to a zoom command.
 16. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the camera is connected to a processor device.17. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting the subset is controlledby a processor device.
 18. The method of claim 1 wherein the performingthe additional processing is controlled by a processor device.
 19. Amethod of controlling the capture of an image of an object in a camerafield of vision, the method comprising: storing, in an image collectionarray, data of a scene within the field of vision; storing, in memory,digitized data of the scene within the field of vision; based upon auser command, selecting a subset of the digitized data of the scene tosimulate an image captured by at least one of panning, tilting andzooming functions of a camera; and performing additional processing onthe subset of the digitized data of the scene.
 20. The method of claim19 wherein the camera is used to transmit images in a network.
 21. Themethod of claim 19 wherein the camera is communicatively coupled to afirst unit that is capable to transmit images in a network.
 22. Themethod of claim 19 wherein the selecting the subset is controlled by afirst unit that is capable to transmit images in a network.
 23. Themethod of claim 19 wherein the performing the additional processing iscontrolled by a first unit that is capable to transmit images in anetwork.
 24. The method of claim 19 wherein the camera iscommunicatively coupled to a companion unit that is capable of beingcommunicatively coupled to a first unit for transmitting images in anetwork.
 25. The method of claim 19 wherein the selecting the subset iscontrolled by a companion unit that is capable of being communicativelycoupled to a first unit for transmitting images in a network.
 26. Themethod of claim 19 wherein the performing the additional processing iscontrolled by a companion unit that is capable of being communicativelycoupled to a first unit for transmitting images in a network.
 27. Themethod of claim 19 wherein the camera is communicatively coupled to aprocessing device.
 28. The method of claim 19 wherein the selecting thesubset is controlled by a processing device.
 29. The method of claim 19wherein the performing the additional processing is controlled by aprocessing device.
 30. The method of claim 19 wherein the selectedsubset of the digitized data is based on a pan command.
 31. The methodof claim 19 wherein the selected subset of the digitized data is basedon a tilt command.
 32. The method of claim 19 wherein the additionalprocessing includes: enlarging the image in the selected subset of thedigitized data in response to a zoom command.
 33. The method of claim 19wherein the additional processing includes: enlarging an area of theselected subset of the digitized data in response to a zoom command. 34.The method of claim 19 wherein the additional processing comprises:performing distortion compensation on the selected subset of thedigitized data of the scene.
 35. The method of claim 19 wherein theadditional processing comprises: performing compression on the selectedsubset of the digitized data of the scene.
 36. The method of claim 35,further comprising: transmitting the compressed selected subset of thedigitized data to a destination device.
 37. An article of manufacture,comprising: a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructionsto: store image data of a scene in an image collection array; digitizethe scene image data into a digitized scene image data and store thedigitized scene image data in memory; based on a command, select asubset of the digitized scene image data; and perform additionalprocessing on the selected subset of the digitized scene image data. 38.An article of manufacture, comprising: a machine-readable medium havingstored thereon instructions to: store, in an image collection array,data of a scene within a field of vision of a wide angle lens of acamera; store, in memory, digitized data of the scene within the fieldof vision; based upon a user command, select a subset of the digitizeddata of the scene to simulate an image captured by at least one ofpanning, tilting and zooming functions of the camera; and performadditional processing on the subset of the digitized data of the scene.39. An apparatus for capturing an image by use of a camera, theapparatus comprising: means for placing a scene within a field of visionof a wide angle lens coupled to the camera; communicatively coupled tothe placing means, means for storing image data of the scene in an imagecollection array; communicatively coupled to the storing means, meansfor digitizing the scene image data into a digitized scene image dataand for storing the digitized scene image data in memory;communicatively coupled to the digitizing and storing means, means forselecting a subset of the digitized scene image data based on a usercommand where the user can be local or remote to the camera location(remote access is optionally allowed); and communicatively coupled tothe selecting means, means for performing additional processing on theselected subset of the digitized scene image data.
 40. An apparatus forcontrolling the capture of an image of an object in a camera field ofvision, the apparatus comprising: first means for storing, in an imagecollection array, data of a scene within the field of vision;communicatively coupled to the first storing means, second means forstoring, in memory, digitized data of the scene within the field ofvision; communicatively coupled to the second storing means, means forselecting a subset of the digitized data of the scene to simulate animage captured by at least one of panning, tilting and zooming functionsof a camera, based upon a user command; and communicatively coupled tothe selecting means, means for performing additional processing on thesubset of the digitized data of the scene.
 41. An apparatus forcontrolling the capture of an image of an object in a camera field ofvision, the apparatus comprising: a camera including a wide angle lenscapable to capture a scene within a field of vision of the wide anglelens; an image collection array communicatively coupled to the wideangle lens and capable to store data of the scene within the field ofvision; a memory communicatively coupled to the image collection arrayand capable to store digitized data of the scene within the field ofvision; and a webcam engine communicatively coupled to the memory andcapable to select, based upon a user command, a subset of the digitizeddata of the scene to simulate an image captured by at least one ofpanning, tilting and zooming functions of the camera.
 42. The apparatusof claim 41 further comprising: a compression/correction enginecommunicatively coupled to the memory and capable to perform compressionand distortion compensation on the subset of the digitized data of thescene.
 43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the camera is capable totransmit images over a network.
 44. The apparatus of claim 41 whereinthe image collection array is capable to store data of an entire scenewithin the field of vision
 45. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein thesubset of the digitized data is transmitted to a destination device. 46.The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the webcam engine is included in a settop box unit that is capable to transmit images across a network. 47.The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the webcam engine is included in acompanion unit for controlling a set top box unit for transmittingimages across a network.
 48. An apparatus for controlling the capture ofan image of an object in a camera field of vision, the apparatuscomprising: a camera including a wide angle lens capable to capture ascene within a field of vision of the wide angle lens; an imagecollection array communicatively coupled to the wide angle lens andcapable to store data of the scene within the field of vision; aprocessor device including a memory communicatively coupled to the imagecollection array and capable to store digitized data of the scene withinthe field of vision, the processor device capable to select a subset ofthe digitized data of the scene to simulate an image captured by atleast one of panning, tilting and zooming functions of the camera. 49.The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the processor device further includesa webcam engine communicatively coupled to the memory and executable bythe processor device to select, based upon a user command, the subset ofthe digitized data of the scene.
 50. An apparatus for controlling thecapture of an image by a camera, the apparatus comprising: a camerahaving a wide angle lens capable to capture a scene within a wide visionfield; an image collection array communicatively coupled to the wideangle lens and capable to store image data of the entire scene withinthe wide vision field; sampling and digitizing stage communicativelycoupled to the image collection array and capable to read and digitizethe image data stored in the image collection array; a memorycommunicatively coupled to the sampling and digitizing stage and capableto store digitized image data of the entire scene within the wide visionfield; and a webcam module communicatively coupled to the memory andcapable to select a subset of the stored digitized image data based uponuser commands.
 51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the camera is usedto transmit images across a network.
 52. The apparatus of claim 50further comprising: a compression/correction module communicativelycoupled to the memory and capable to perform compression and distortioncompensation on the subset of the stored digitized data.
 53. Theapparatus of claim 50 wherein the image collection array is capable tostore data of an entire scene within the wide vision field.
 54. Theapparatus of claim 50 wherein the subset of the stored digitized data istransmitted to a destination device.
 55. The apparatus of claim 50wherein the webcam module is included in a unit that is capable totransmit images across a network.
 56. The apparatus of claim 50 whereinthe webcam module is included in a companion unit for controlling a settop box unit for transmitting images across a network.
 57. An apparatusfor controlling the image capture by a camera, the apparatus comprising:a unit capable of being communicatively coupled to the camera, andcapable to store digitized data of a scene within a field of vision ofthe camera; the unit including a webcam engine capable to select, basedupon a user command, a subset of the stored digitized data of the sceneto simulate an image captured by at least one of panning, tilting andzooming functions of the camera; the unit further including a processorcommunicatively coupled to the webcam engine and capable to execute thewebcam engine to permit the selection of the subset of the storeddigitized data.
 58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the unit furthercomprises: an image correction module communicatively coupled to theprocessor and capable to perform distortion compensation on the selectedsubset.
 59. An apparatus for controlling the capture of an image of anobject, the apparatus comprising: a lens capable to capture a scenewithin a wide field of vision of the lens; an image collection arraycommunicatively coupled to the lens and capable to store data of thescene within the wide field of vision; a memory communicatively coupledto the image collection array and capable to store digitized data of thescene within the wide field of vision; and a processing stagecommunicatively coupled to the memory and capable to select a subset ofthe digitized data of the scene in response to a user command forcontrolling the capture of the image.
 60. The apparatus of claim 59wherein the processing stage further includes a webcam enginecommunicatively coupled to the memory and capable to select the subsetof the digitized data of the scene.
 61. The apparatus of claim 59wherein the processing stage further includes an image correction enginecommunicatively coupled to the processor and capable to performdistortion compensation on the selected subset.